H. Rider Haggard (1856–1925)
Author of King Solomon's Mines
About the Author
Sir Henry Rider Haggard (1856-1925) is best remembered for his 34 adventure fantasy novels set in exotic locations. As a child, Haggard, whose father was an English barrister, was considered dim-witted and was inclined to daydreaming. His parents ended his formal education when he was seventeen, show more and he was sent to work in South Africa, where his imagination was inspired by the people, animals, and jungle. He became close friends with authors Rudyard Kipling and Andrew Lang. Haggard's most popular books are King Solomon's Mines (1886) and She (1887). He also wrote short stories, as well as nonfiction on topics such as gardening, English farming, and rural life, interests which led to duties on government commissions concerned with land maintenance. For his literary contributions and his government service, Haggard was knighted in 1912. Several of Haggard's novels have been filmed. She was filmed in 1965, starring Ursula Andress. King Solomon's Mines was filmed with Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr in 1950, and again with Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone in 1985. Also, the novel Allan Quatermain was filmed as Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold with Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone in 1986. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by H. Rider Haggard
Regeneration, Being an Account of the Social Work of the Salvation Army in Great Britain (1910) 22 copies
Cetywayo and his White Neighbours Remarks on Recent Events in Zululand, Natal, and the Transvaal (1882) 14 copies
The Works of Leo Tolstoi One Volume Edition [1928]; The Works of Victor Hugo One Volume Edition [1927]; The Works of H.… (1928) 10 copies
H. RIDER HAGGARD Ultimate Collection: 60 Works in One Volume (Allan Quatermain Series, Ayesha Series, Lost World… (2016) 10 copies
The Annotated She: A Critical Edition of H. Rider Haggard's Victorian Romance (Visions (Bloomington, Ind.)) (1991) 10 copies
King Solomon's Mines and Other Adventures Vol. 1 (The Allan Quatermain Tales--Four Exciting Adventure Novels in… (2008) 10 copies
The Allan Quatermain Series: 15 Books and Stories in One Volume (Unexpurgated Edition) (Halcyon Classics) (2009) 9 copies
King Solomon's Mines: Level 3 (Usborne Young Reading) (3.3 Young Reading Series Three (Purple)) (2012) 8 copies
SHE: The four novels.: (She, Ayesha: The Return of She, She and Allan, Wisdom?s Daughter) (Timeless Wisdom Collection) (2014) — Author — 7 copies
The Favorite Novels of H. Rider Haggard [Cleopatra / She / King Solomon's Mines / Allan Quatermain / Maiwa's Revenge] (1928) 7 copies
Quatermain: the Complete Adventures: 3-Child of Storm & Allan and the Holy Flower (Quartermain) (2008) 5 copies
Lost civilizations 5 copies
Novelas Escogidas. Ella, Las Minas del Rey Salomon, Allan Quatermain, La esposa de Allan, La venganza de Maiwa (1966) 4 copies
African Adventures: 2-The People of the Mist, Black Heart and White Heart & The Wizard (2009) 4 copies
Quatermain: the Complete Adventures: 7-Allan and the Ice Gods, Four Short Adventures & Nada the Lily (2009) 4 copies
Rural England;: Being an account of agricultural and social researches carried out in the years 1901 & 1902 (1902) 4 copies
Mr. Meeson's Will/ Doctor Therne 3 copies
Quatermain: the Complete Adventures: 6-Heu-Heu or, the Monster & The Treasure of the Lake (2009) 3 copies
Allan Quatermain: 17 Books 3 copies
She 2 copies
The Allan Quatermain Omnibus Volume II, including the following novels (complete and unabridged) The Ivory Child, The… (2012) 2 copies
African Stories 2 copies
She [Motion picture] 2 copies
New Oxford Progressive English Readers: Grade 4: 3700 Headwords: King Solomon's Mines (2008) 2 copies
King Solomons Mines 2 copies
King Solomon's Mines: Allan Quatermain and Montezuma's Daughter (Illustrated British Classics) (2016) 2 copies
Mary of Marion Isle 2 copies
Ela: O Mistério no Coração da África 2 copies
The Collected Works of Henry Rider Haggard: The Complete Works PergamonMedia (Highlights of World Literature) (2015) 1 copy
MY FELLOW LABORER. 1 copy
i 1 copy
Barbara Who Came Back 1 copy
Margaret 1 copy
A Winter Pilgrimage: Being an Account of Travels through Palestine, Italy, and the Island of Cyprus Accomplished in the… (1999) 1 copy
The Lady of the Heavens 1 copy
Rozamunda 1 copy
Nada the Lily 1 copy
Сердце мира 1 copy
Перстень царицы Савской 1 copy
Alan Quatermain 1 copy
Benita: An African Romance 1 copy
KING SOLOMON´S MINES 1 copy
Ella. Vols. I i II 1 copy
Ella 1 copy
(all) 1 copy
Pollyanna 1 copy
The Blue Curtains 1 copy
H. Rider Haggard. Les Mines du Roi Salomon : Traduit par René Lécuyer. Illustrations de P. Couronne 1 copy
Allan Quatermain Annotated 1 copy
ඈ හෙවත් අයේෂා : 2 වන වෙළුම 1 copy
As Minas de Salomão Livro 1 1 copy
About Fiction 1 copy
Den sorte lilie 1 copy
Maiwas Hævn 1 copy
טבעת מלכת שבא 1 copy
An Allan Quatermain Adventure Collection: King Solomon's Mines, Allan Quatermain, Allan's Wife, Hunter Quatermain's… (2020) 1 copy
Belshazzar 1 copy
The Days of My Life - Vol 2 1 copy
She Vol. 2 1 copy
The Zayat Kiss 1 copy
foreign teachers graded reading the Oxford English society (Level 4) (Oxford progressive English readers) (1998) 1 copy
The Allan Quatermain Omnibus Volume I, including the following novels (complete and unabridged) King Solomon's… (2012) 1 copy
Allan Quatermain (abridged) 1 copy
Novelas escogidas 1 copy
She ; King Solomon's mines 1 copy
She [Short Story] 1 copy
Queen Shebas Ring 1 copy
Et eventyrland 1 copy
Child of the storm 1 copy
The Retirn of She 1 copy
Jitřenka (1920) 1 copy
H. Rider Haggard - The Wizard: "Truly wealth, which men spend all their lives in acquiring, is a valueless thing at the… (2016) 1 copy
King Solomon's Mines 1 copy
رقصة الموت 1 copy
ඈ හෙවත් අයේෂා : 1 වන වෙළුම 1 copy
ෂීබා රැජිනගේ මුදුව 1 copy
ඈ සහ ඇලන් 1 copy
මායා සිහිනය 1 copy
අයේෂා ආපසු එයි 1 copy
King Solomon's Mines 1 copy
Dziecię z kości słoniowej 1 copy
King Solomon's Mines 1 copy
Associated Works
Into Unknown England, 1866-1913: Selections from the Social Explorers (1976) — Contributor — 22 copies
Adventure Novels: King Solomon's Mines, Prisoner of Zenda, Under the Red Robe, The Lost World, Beau Geste (Collins… (1995) — Contributor — 5 copies
Out of the Sand: Mummies, Pyramids, and Egyptology in Classic Science Fiction and Fantasy (2008) — Contributor — 5 copies
Marvel Classics Comics No. 24 — Story — 2 copies
Het Beste Boek 124: Luchtkasteel / Liesbeth / Gekidnapt / Vondeling van de storm (1986) — Author — 2 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Haggard, H. Rider
- Legal name
- Haggard, Henry Rider
- Birthdate
- 1856-06-22
- Date of death
- 1925-05-14
- Burial location
- St Mary Churchyard, Ditchingham, Norfolk, England, UK
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- UK
- Country (for map)
- England, UK
- Birthplace
- Bradenham, Norfolk, England, UK
- Place of death
- London, England, UK
- Places of residence
- South Africa
UK - Education
- Ipswich Grammar School
- Occupations
- novelist
barrister
civil servant - Relationships
- Haggard, Lilias Rider (daughter)
- Awards and honors
- Knight Commander, Order of the British Empire (1919)
Knight Bachelor (1912) - Short biography
- Sir H. Rider Haggard
Also known asSir Henry Rider Haggard
born
June 22, 1856
Bradenham, England
died
May 14, 1925 (aged 68)
London, England
notable works“She”
“King Solomon’s Mines”
“Heart of the World”
“The Ivory Child”
“Cleopatra”
“Nada the Lily”
“A Farmer’s Year”
“Queen Sheba’s Ring”
“Rural England”
“Marie”
Sir H. Rider Haggard, in full Sir Henry Rider Haggard (born June 22, 1856, Bradenham, Norfolk, Eng.—died May 14, 1925, London), English novelist best known for his romantic adventure King Solomon’s Mines (1885).
The son of a barrister, Haggard was educated at Ipswich grammar school and by private tutors. In 1875, at age 19, he went to southern Africa as secretary to the governor of Natal, Sir Henry Bulwer. Then he served on Sir Theophilus Shepstone’s staff and himself hoisted the flag at the brief first annexation of the Transvaal (1877–81). He then became master of the high court there. In 1879 he returned to England, wrote a history of recent events in southern Africa, Cetywayo and His White Neighbours (1882), and read for the bar.
He published two unsuccessful novels but captured the public with his African adventure story King Solomon’s Mines. He followed this with She (1887) and further stories of Africa, notably Allan Quatermain (1887), Nada the Lily (1892), Queen Sheba’s Ring (1910), Marie (1912), and The Ivory Child (1916). He used other settings for such striking romances as Cleopatra (1889), Montezuma’s Daughter (1893), and Heart of the World (1896).
Haggard was also a practical farmer; he served on several government commissions concerning agriculture and was knighted in 1912 for these services. A Farmer’s Year (1899) and Rural England, 2 vol. (1902), are works of some importance. His autobiography, The Days of My Life: An Autobiography by Sir H. Rider Haggard (1926), was edited by C.J. Longman and published posthumously. With Robert Louis Stevenson, George MacDonald, and William Morris, Haggard was part of the literary reaction against domestic realism that has been called a romance revival.
(Written By: The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica)
Members
Reviews
The sequel to King Solomon's Mines, this novel offers an adventure of similar quality, and the worst thing I can say about it is that it's perhaps a bit too similar to the first. No, there are no Indiana-Jones-like exploration of an archaeological site with hidden treasure, but there's a similar hidden civilization, a big battle (visits by Quatermain & Co always seem to bring havoc) and it's another adventure with the same main characters: Allan Quatermain, Sir Henry Curtis and Captain Good, accompanied by a different but equally noble and brave indigenous warrior.
I was sorry that the story revealed that Harry, Allan's beloved son, had died, dealing our hero a strong blow.
I quite enjoy Quatermain's narration, his philosophical reflections and how his modesty leads him to present his accomplishments as lesser than they really are. Goodbye Allan!… (more)
I was sorry that the story revealed that Harry, Allan's beloved son, had died, dealing our hero a strong blow.
I quite enjoy Quatermain's narration, his philosophical reflections and how his modesty leads him to present his accomplishments as lesser than they really are. Goodbye Allan!… (more)
Adventurer and big game hunter Allan Quartermain is asked by Sir Henry Curtis and his friend Captain Good to assist the pair in finding Sir Henry’s brother, last seen headed north into Africa’s uncharted interior in search of the famous King Solomon’s Mines. Quartermain, known for his adventures in Africa, has a map that claims to lead to the Mines. Aware of the extreme dangers, Quartermain nevertheless agrees to join the expedition, striking a deal that, even if he dies, will provide support for his son while the boy is studying medicine in England.
What follows is a remarkable succession of adventures in unexplored Africa, including natural dangers (wild animals, deserts, mountains ranges...), a "lost world" kingdom where they get involved in a civil war, and the mythic King Solomon's Mines, full of treasures and mortal traps.
Extremely successful in its time (1885), it placed Haggard as one of the great adventure writers of the Victorian era.
The novel is written in first person by Quartermain, who has a easy, self-effacing way of talking. He directly addresses his son Harry, telling the story for him. It was fascinating stuff then, when Africa was a romantic, unknown continent, and it's still entertaining nowadays.
Of course, as all contemporary African adventure novels (see for example Verne's Five Weeks in a Balloon and many others), it was written by people who lived in a different time, with a colonial frame of mind that we condemn today. However, judged by the standards of its time it's probably enlightened. Haggard knew Africa, after all, and knew that, even if their civilizations were less advanced, there were good and bad people everywhere:
"What is a gentleman? I don’t quite know, and yet I have had to do with niggers—no, I will scratch out that word “niggers,” for I do not like it. I’ve known natives who are, and so you will say, Harry, my boy, before you have done with this tale, and I have known mean whites with lots of money and fresh out from home, too, who are not."
There's also some hunting, which is something that bothers some modern readers. In any case, I appreciate 19th century novels because they let you see how people thought at that time, as opposed to modern historical novels that tend to feature 19th century characters with modern mentalities.
This is not high literature. Like with Verne's novels, expect the focus to be on the plot and the adventure, and not on any kind of psychological insight of the characters. Unlike Verne, though, Haggard does not make any attempt to inform the reader. He just wants to entertain. Whether that's good or bad will depend on the reader. In my case, I rather enjoy Verne's instructional moments.
There is not much humor in this story, but what there is is mostly provided by Captain Good (and his beautiful white legs... you'll know what I mean if you read the novel).
This is still worth reading for anyone who enjoys 19th century adventure tales. I have to say, as an Indiana Jones fan, there is a lot of Allan Quatermain in Indy, from the self-effacing attitude to the over-the-top adventures he gets involved in (although there are no supernatural elements in this story).… (more)
What follows is a remarkable succession of adventures in unexplored Africa, including natural dangers (wild animals, deserts, mountains ranges...), a "lost world" kingdom where they get involved in a civil war, and the mythic King Solomon's Mines, full of treasures and mortal traps.
Extremely successful in its time (1885), it placed Haggard as one of the great adventure writers of the Victorian era.
The novel is written in first person by Quartermain, who has a easy, self-effacing way of talking. He directly addresses his son Harry, telling the story for him. It was fascinating stuff then, when Africa was a romantic, unknown continent, and it's still entertaining nowadays.
Of course, as all contemporary African adventure novels (see for example Verne's Five Weeks in a Balloon and many others), it was written by people who lived in a different time, with a colonial frame of mind that we condemn today. However, judged by the standards of its time it's probably enlightened. Haggard knew Africa, after all, and knew that, even if their civilizations were less advanced, there were good and bad people everywhere:
"What is a gentleman? I don’t quite know, and yet I have had to do with niggers—no, I will scratch out that word “niggers,” for I do not like it. I’ve known natives who are, and so you will say, Harry, my boy, before you have done with this tale, and I have known mean whites with lots of money and fresh out from home, too, who are not."
There's also some hunting, which is something that bothers some modern readers. In any case, I appreciate 19th century novels because they let you see how people thought at that time, as opposed to modern historical novels that tend to feature 19th century characters with modern mentalities.
This is not high literature. Like with Verne's novels, expect the focus to be on the plot and the adventure, and not on any kind of psychological insight of the characters. Unlike Verne, though, Haggard does not make any attempt to inform the reader. He just wants to entertain. Whether that's good or bad will depend on the reader. In my case, I rather enjoy Verne's instructional moments.
There is not much humor in this story, but what there is is mostly provided by Captain Good (and his beautiful white legs... you'll know what I mean if you read the novel).
This is still worth reading for anyone who enjoys 19th century adventure tales. I have to say, as an Indiana Jones fan, there is a lot of Allan Quatermain in Indy, from the self-effacing attitude to the over-the-top adventures he gets involved in (although there are no supernatural elements in this story).… (more)
Three men trek to the remote African interior in search of a lost friend - and reach, at the end of a perilous journey, an unknown land cut off from the world, where terrible dangers threaten anyone who ventures near the spectacular diamond mines of King Solomon...
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Statistics
- Works
- 304
- Also by
- 41
- Members
- 17,355
- Popularity
- #1,274
- Rating
- 3.6
- Reviews
- 368
- ISBNs
- 3,368
- Languages
- 28
- Favorited
- 43
In this prequel, we start back at Allan's childhood, showing how he first met his future wife, and how his father and him migrated to Africa after the rest of the family died. The novel proper starts when Allan's father eventually dies, and Allan, now a young man, starts traveling in Africa. As the title suggests, this one also shows how he meets his wife again, and how they get in love and get married. Of course, it has more extraordinary adventures, involving a character who has been raised by baboons (a precedent of Tarzan).
The novel is quite short, and your enjoyment of it will depend on whether you enjoy Haggart's style. 19th century adventure novels are an acquired taste, after all. Haggard, of course, being a man of his time, did not have 21st century ideas about colonialism, so this shows how Europeans of the time saw the natives. However, he knew Africa, and he had respect for some natives. Here we get one of those noble African characters as a companion, in this case a magical man. It can be considered fantasy, because although Haggard likes to leave magic a bit ambiguous, it's strongly implied in the story that it works.… (more)